Florida Peanut Producers Association holds 39th Annual Membership Meeting pproximately 300 peanut farmers and their families attended the Florida Peanut Producers Association Annual Membership Meeting recently held in Marianna, Fla. During the evening’s events, two members were elected to serve three-year terms on the FPPA Board of Directors: Chuck Hatch of Suwannee County and Andy Robinson of Levy County. They replace the two positions vacated by Bob Barnett and Scott Robinson due to term limits. The Farm Credit/FPPA Young Peanut Farmer Award was presented to Alex Murphy. Murphy is a native Floridian, who grew up in Hamilton County where
he graduated from Jasper High School in 2011. Murphy grew 205 acres of peanuts in 2013 yielding 4,500 pounds per acre. He also grows corn and soybeans on his farm. In addition to his own farming operation, he assist his two uncles, Jimmy and Stan Murphy on their farms. Together they have a long history of participating in various row crop variety trails on their farms. In 2013, the family won top grower for no-tillage/strip-till corn with an average yield of 310 bushels per acre. Being a fourth generation farmer, Murphy plans to slowly expand his operation and continue to diversify his crop rotation to take advantage of markets that other commodities offer.
Murphy received a beautiful plaque and $200 from Farm Credit in recognition of being selected the 2014 Young Peanut Farmer of the Year. The evening’s program also consisted of promotional highlights from Leslie Wagner, executive director of Southern Peanut Growers. Bob Parker, president and CEO of the National Peanut Board discussed some of the new marketing initiatives underway at the NPB. Stanley Fletcher gave a presentation on the new farm bill and how it may impact farms for the next five years. t
Florida Peanut Producers Association board members retire at annual meeting. Pictured left to right: Scott Robinson and Bob Barnett receive plaques in recognition of their dedicated service while serving on the FPPA Board of Directors for the past six years.
Members of the Florida Peanut Producers Association elects new board members. Pictured left to right: Andy Robinson of Levy County, Fla., and Chuck Hatch of Suwanee County, Fla., were elected to serve during FPPA’s annual meeting.
Ken Barton, Florida Peanut Producers Association executive director, presents the Farm Credit/FPPA Young Peanut Farmer Award to Alex Murphy (left) of Hamilton County, Fla., during FPPA’s annual meeting.
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2014 FPPA Board of Directors President- Steve Jordan, Bascom, FL V. President- Nick Marshall, Baker, FL Sec./Treas. - Henry McCrone, Blountstown, FL David DeFelix, Campbellton, FL Steven Godwin, Jay, FL Bud Baggett, Marianna, FL Jerry Mills, Jr., Morriston, FL Chuck Hatch, Branford, FL Andy Robinson, Williston, FL
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Southeastern Peanut Farmer April 2014
BY KEN BARTON